War

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

In War, Sebastian Junger (The Perfect Storm) turns his brilliant and empathetic eye to the reality of combat — the fear, the honor, and the trust among men in an extreme situation whose survival depends on their absolute commitment to one another. His on-the-ground account follows a single platoon through a 15-month tour of duty in the most dangerous outpost in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley. Through the experiences of these young men at war, he shows what it means to fight, to serve, and to face down mortal danger on a daily basis.

Review:

"With his narrative gifts and vivid prose — as free, thank God, of literary posturing as it is of war-correspondent chest-thumping — Junger masterfully chronicles the platoon's 15-month tour of duty....Junger makes us see the terror, monotony, misery, comradeship and lunatic excitement that have been elements of all wars since, say, the siege of Troy. He thus becomes a kind of 21st-century battle singer, narrating the deeds and misdeeds of his heroes while explaining what makes them do what they do....It's the best writing I've seen on the subject since J. Glenn Gray's 1959 classic, The Warriors: Reflections on Men in Battle....Junger's sketches of the men are deft, his ear for their quirky speech (aided by video recordings) spot on....This splendid book should help the rest of us understand them — and war itself — a little better." Washington Post

About the Author

Sebastian Junger is the New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect Storm and A Death in Belmont. He is a contributing editor to Vanity Fair, and has been awarded a National Magazine Award and an SAIS Novartis Prize for journalism. He lives in New York City.

What Our Readers Are Saying

Average customer rating based on 1 comment:

Warren Dogeagle, January 23, 2012 (view all comments by Warren Dogeagle)
I enjoyed the content with the knowledge of the real joys and sorrows of the young men chronicled by S.Junger. It was a great read with wonderful references in the back. I especially was impressed by the direction of interviewing and following the enlisted mens daily experiences without looking for "big picture" input or approval of politically concerned directors. It also dovetails expertly with the documentary "Restrepo". A true milestone that encapsulates the men in the foxhole fighting for each other regardless of how they got there.

"Review"
by Washington Post,
"With his narrative gifts and vivid prose — as free, thank God, of literary posturing as it is of war-correspondent chest-thumping — Junger masterfully chronicles the platoon's 15-month tour of duty....Junger makes us see the terror, monotony, misery, comradeship and lunatic excitement that have been elements of all wars since, say, the siege of Troy. He thus becomes a kind of 21st-century battle singer, narrating the deeds and misdeeds of his heroes while explaining what makes them do what they do....It's the best writing I've seen on the subject since J. Glenn Gray's 1959 classic, The Warriors: Reflections on Men in Battle....Junger's sketches of the men are deft, his ear for their quirky speech (aided by video recordings) spot on....This splendid book should help the rest of us understand them — and war itself — a little better."

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